Vending-machine.



R. H. POLLOGK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1911.

1,098,399, Patented June 2, 1914.

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Patented June 2, 1914.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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R. H. POLLOGK. VENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 14.43.17, 1911.

1,098,399, I Patented June 2, 1914,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH IO-WASHINGTON. D. :4

R. H. POLLOGK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 11, 1911.

1,098,399, Patented June 2, 1914.

'7 $HEETS-SHEET 5.

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6/ awe whoa WWW in @M COLUMBIA PLANcumAPH cu., WASHINGTON. t), c.

R. H. POLLOGK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.17, 1911.

Patented June 2, 1914,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

R.'H. POLLOGK.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.17, 1911.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

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COLUMBIA PLANDGRAI'H CO4. suma'rox, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

ROBERT H. POLLOCK, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW-JERSEY, ASSIGNOB TO NEW JERSEY VENDING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. PoLLooK,

a citizen'of the United States, a resident of the city of Plainfield, in the county of Union, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to com controlled vending machines and more particularly to coin controlled vending machines adapted to dispense stamps, tickets, or the like, which are adapted to be cut from a continuous roll of material.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a vending device adapted to be used in connection with coin release mechanism, which vending device is arranged to sever a pre-determined number of printed certificates from a continuous roll.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for vending a pre-deter mined number of printed certificates from a continuous roll of printed certificates in such manner that the tickets will be severed upon pie-determined lines between the printlng of each certificate. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism adapted to cooperate with vending devices to readjust a strip of material each time a portion of said strip is severed in order to insure that the severance will take place within pre-determined lines between printed certificates upon said strip.

Another object of this invention is to provide means whereby a strip of material to be vended may be manually adjusted.

A further object of this invention is to provide a reciprocating slide carrying thereon a rigid gripper and a movable gripper, the movement of the slide being substantially equal to the amount of strip to be delivered from the vending machine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide adjusting needles which readjust the strip each particular time a portion thereof is vended and which cooperate with openings through the strip to prevent the strip from drawing up due to meteorological conditions.

Still other and further objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be pointed out more specifically in the speci fication, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters are used to represent like parts throughout the several figures thereof, and the invention will be more particularly set forth in the claims. Referring more particularly to the drawlngs in which :-Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the left front elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a view showing the device in right front elevation. Fig. 3 is a view showing the device in direct front elevation. Fig. 4 is a detached view showing the device in left side elevation. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the releasing mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail view taken on line AA of Fig. 11.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the parts in normal relationship immediately after a vending operation has been completcd. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the adjusting needles and detail parts in normal position immediately after completing a vending operation. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the adjusting needles during the first half of a vending operation cycle. Fig. 10 is a detail rear view illustrating the adjusting needles in position shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the movable clamp controlled cam mechanism taken on line BB of Fig. 6.

In vending machines adapted to vend tickets or stamps by severing a portion of a continuous strip of tickets or stamps, the

strip of material must be adjusted for each vending operation in order to insure that the cutting mechanism will separate the tickets or stamps on lines between the printed certificates. There the feeding operation is dependent merely upon grippers having a pre-determined length of travel, unless some adjustment of the strip of stamps or tickets is made, the cutting knife may cut through the face of the ticket or stamp, for the reason that it is a well known fact that paper strips increase or decrease perceptibly due to the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere, and the error in each vending operation is cumulative un less a compensating adjustment is made. It will be noted that if the error for each operation be only one one-hundredth of an inch, in one hundred operations the accumulative error will be one inch, and therefore it will be seen that unless adjusting compensation is provided, the cutting mechanism will very soon be severing through the face of the stamp or certificate. in applicants device the feeding of the strip forward 1s.

dependent upon reciprocating grippers. However, prior to the action of the grippers, the strip is adjusted by delicate spring controlled needles which are adapted to pass through openings formed in the feeding strip between each stamp or certificate and thus secure an adjustment of the strip prior to the closing of the feeding grippers. In this way it will be noted that each venda ing operation preadjusts the position of the certificates, with reference to the grippers prior to the feeding operation.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4:, the feeding and controlling devices of the vending machine hereinafter to be more specifically de scribed, are mounted in a casing 1, upon which is formed a journal boss 2 that is adapted to provide a longitudinal bearing for an operating shaft 4- that is provided upon its outer end with an operating handle The inner end of the operating shaft 4 carries a ratchet wheel 6 which cooperates with coin releasing mechanism, that will be more specifically described hereinafter by reference to Fig. 5, which is a detail iew of this particular mechanism. A crank arm. 7 is formed integral with the ratchet wheel 6, and is connected with a vertical slide plate 8, by means of a pitman 9. The vertical slide plate 8 is provided on its rear face with side tongues 10 and 11 (see dotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7) which are adapted to cooperate with guide ways out in the bed portion 12 of an upright main frame 14. The vertical slide plate 8 carries upon its lower end a rigid gripping jaw 15 which is immovably attached to the vertical slide plate 8. A movable gripping jaw 16 is carried directly beneath the lower end of the vertical slide plate 8, and is pivotally mounted thereonby means of a stud bolt 17. (See Figs. 2, 6 and 7.) immediately above the gripping jaws 15 and 16, the vertical slide plate 8 is provided with an ofiset portion 18, which forms a bracket for holding a pivot screw 19, upon which a series of adjusting needles 20 are rotatably mounted. (See Figs. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10.) A plate 21 is attached to the offset portion 18 on the vertical slide plate 8 by means of stub screws 22 and forms a bracket for supporting a series of light leaf springs 24: that are adapted to cooperate with the curved ends 25 of the adjusting needles 20 in such manner as to normally retain the adjusting needles in light contact with the plate 21. (See Fig. 9.) The upright main frame 14, at a little below its mid portion, is provided with an offset bracket 26 which carries vertical guide plates 27 and 28. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The upper end of the upright main frame 1 is formed with a projecting stud 29 which carries a guiding reel for holding a roll of certificates or stamps.

The guiding reel comprises stationary disk plates 30 and 31. The outer disk plate 31 is carried upon a stationary shaft 32 and is held in position by means of a thumb nut 34 and may be removed to place a roll of certificates, stamps or tickets upon the stationary shaft 32.

A weight roller 35 is carried upon a U- shaped bracket 36 which is pivotally mounted at each of its ends in the disk plates 30 and 31 respectively in such manner that the weight roller 35 bears upon the feeding strip to offer a slight resistance to the fe aling of the strip and to prevent undesirable unwinding or unrolling due to the resilience of the material composing the roll of certificates. The guide plates 27 and 28 near the offset bracket 26, are provided with a back plate 37 and a cover plate 38. The back plate 37 is formed with slotted retaining lugs 39 and d0, which form guides for journals 11 and 12 that carry friction rolls 4 d and 45. The friction rolls t l and 4-5 are rigidly mounted upon the journal members in such manner that the Whole of the friction rolls and journals revolve as an entity, or it may be desirable to form the friction rolls and the journals from an integral piece of material. The friction rolls 442 and eX tend through slots 46 and L7, and are held in resilient contact with a strip of certificates by means of spring members 48 and 49 that are carried upon the offset bracket 26. The circumferential surface of the friction rolls 4% and l5 are preferably roughened or knurled in order to present a proper friction surface and in order to form a thumb grip when it is desirable to adjust the strip of certificates by rotating the friction rolls under thumb pressure. This is particularly desirable when necessary to introduce a new stock of certificates in the machine. the upper face of the guide plates 27 and 28, immediately to the rear of the offset bracket 26, a series of curved leaf springs 50 are mounted by means of stud screws 51 which pass into the offset bracket 26. (See Figs. 9 and 10;) These curved leaf springs are somewhat stronger than the light-leaf springs 2-1, and therefore as the adjusting needles 20 are carried upward during the upward movement of the vertical slide plate 8, the curved ends 25 of the adjusting needles will contact with the curved leaf springs 50 and the needles will be f rced inwardly bringing their points in contact with the strip of certificates.

By reference to Figs. 2, 3, 9 and 10, it will be noted that the operative points of the adjusting needles 2() are arranged in staggered relationship in order to insure that at least some of the needles will pass through perforations which are formed between in dividual stamps or certificates adapted to be fed from the vending machine.

Upon

Referring more particularly to Fig. 8, which figure shows the adjusting needles in normal position of rest it will be noted that after the adjusting needles have entered the perforations herein before specified in the strip of certificates or stamps, the light leaf springs 24 are not sufficiently strong to overcome the friction between the needles and the strip of certificates or stamps, therefore the needles will be retained through the perforations until the vertical slide plate 8 starts to move upward to begin a new cycle of the vending operation. It is particularly desirable that the needles should be retained in the openings in the coin slots when the device is in normal position of rest, for the reason that when in this position the gripping jaws hereinafter to be more fully de scribed, are open, and therefore the needles are depended upon to prevent the strip of certificates or stamps from receding in an upward direction due to resilience in unwinding or climatic conditions.

The gripping devices and operative mechanism therefor, will be more specifically de scribed by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 6, 7 and 11. As has been hereinbefore stated, the rigid gripping jaw 15 is immovably mounted upon the vertical slide plate 8 and the movable gripping jaw 16 is pivotally mounted upon the vertical slide plate 8, and the gripping heads 52 and 54 are adapted to be oppositely arranged in order to form a firm grip when the movable jaw is forced in contact with the rigid aw. The outer end of the movable jaw 16 is provided with cam faces which are adapted to cooperate with controlling faces 55 and 56 on a controlling plate 57. The controlling plate 57 is preferably formed of hardened steel and is mounted in a cont-rolling frame 58 by means of stub screws 59. A knife arm 60 is mounted upon a base plate 61 by means of a pivot screw 62, and is provided at its outer end with a knife edge cutting face 64 which is adapted to cooperate with a cutting face 65 upon the stationary blade 66 which is fixedly mounted upon the base plate 61 by means of screws 67. A vertical post 68 is fixedly mounted upon the outer end of the knife arm 60, and carries a link 69 which passes through a bracket 70 formed upon the controlling frame 58. The link 69 carries a compression spring 71, the tension of which is regulated by means of thumb nuts 72. A vertical pressure post 74 is also fixedly mounted upon the knife arm 60, and is held in contact with the outer end of the movable gripping jaw 16 by means of the compression spring 71 hereinbefore specified. A movable cam head 75 is mounted in the controlling frame 58 and is normally spring pressed in the direction of its cam face by means of a compression spring 76, which is regulated by an adjusting screw 77 that passes through a cover plat-e 78 and engages a guiding pin 79, which tends to prevent buckling of the compression spring 76. The cam head 75 is limited in its movement by a pin 80 which cooperates with the end walls of the slot 81 that is cut in the upper edge of the cam head 75. A cam face 82 of the cam head 75 is adapted to contact with the outer end of the movable gripping jaw 16 during the return movement of the vertical slide plate 8, and since the compression spring 76 is very much stronger than the spring 71, the movable jaw 16 is forced open and the knife arm is swung rearward to perform the cutting operation as soon as the movable jaw has passed the lower end of the controlling plate 57. The stationary blade 66 is provided on each end thereof with guiding arms 84 and 85, which tend to retain the knife edge 64 and the knife arm 60 in proper relationship during the cutting movement.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 5, the releasing devices comprise a coin selective chute which is provided with an insert opening 86 which leads to a vertical passage way 87, at the bottom of which is located a rebounding anvil 88. An adjustable magnet 89 is mounted immediately over the passage way 87 by means of a pivot screw 90 and an adjustable screw 91 which passes through an adjusting slot 92 and thus enables the magnet to be swung upon the pivot 91 in order to change the amount of magnetism passing through the passage way 87. Adjustable barriers 94 and 95 are mounted immediately in front of the rebounding anvil 88 and are so adjusted as to intercept any article other than a proper coin which may be inserted through the opening 86. A weight arm 96 is mounted on the casing 1 by means of a pivot screw 97, and is provided on its inner end with a coin slot 98 which is arranged with tapering sides that are slanted snfliciently to prevent a proper coin from falling through the slot. The weight arm 96 is normally retained against a stop 99 by means of a weight 100, and is so proportioned as to be overbalanced when a proper coin drops into the coin slot 98.

The weight arm 96 is provided with a depending member 101 in which is formed a slot 102.

A locking dog 104 is pivotally mounted on the casing 1 by means of a stub screw 105, and is provided with a releasing arm 106 which carries a pin 107 that cooperates with the slot 102 in the depending member 101 hereinbefore described. The operative head of the locking dog 104 is provided with a projecting engaging dog 108 that normally contacts with a lock notch 109 of a cam 110 which is formed on the inner face of the ratchet wheel 6. The portion of the cam 110 immediately adjacent the locking notch 109 is spiral with relation to the axis of the ratchet wheel 6. Beyond the spiral portion and between the arrows X and Y, the cam is concentric with the aXis of the ratchet wheel 6. A retaining pawl 111 is adapted to be held in resilient engagement with the ratchet teeth 112 of the ratchet wheel 6 by means of a spring 114 which co-acts with a stop pin 115 mounted in the casing 1. The retaining pawl 111 is adapted to prevent the operating handle 5 from being turned backwardly. An ejecting bracket 116 is fiX- edly mounted on the casing 1, and is adapted to pass through the coin slot 108 to eject a coin from the weight lever, in a manner which will be more specifically described in the description of the operation of the device. A movable barrier 117 is mounted upon a lever arm 118 that is carried by a bracket 119 which is mounted upon the face of the coin chute. The lower end 120 of the lever arm 118 is normally held in the path of the weight arm 96 because of a weight disk 121 which is attached to the movable barrier 117 in such manner as to cause the center of gravity of the upper end of the lever arm 118 to fall outside of its pivotal point in the bracket 119. However, a light resilient spring may be used with equal facility for performing the function of the weight. The movable barrier 117 is arranged directly over a slot 122 in the coin chute between the adjustable barriers 94 and 95, and is guided by means of guide brackets 124. When the weight arm 96 is swung downwardly it contacts with the lower end 120 of the lever arm 118 and thus swings the movable barrier 117 forward to close the passage between the adjustable barriers 94 and 95 in a manner that will be more specifically described hereinafter.

The upright main frame 14 is provided with an offset stud 125 which carries a ratchet. wheel 126. A bell crank 127 is mounted between the ratchet wheel 126 and the offset stud 125. A feeding dog 128 is carried upon the upper arm of the bell crank 127 by means of a pivot screw 129, and is normally retained in engagement with the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel 126 by means of a resilient spring 130 which cooperates with a stop pin 131. The other end of the bell crank 127 carries an adjustment screw 132 and is normally retained in contact with a stop pin 134 mounted in the upright main frame 14, by means of a resili ent spring 135 that is carried upon the bell crank 127. The adjustable screw 132 is adapted to be struck by an actuating pin 136 that is carried upon the vertical slide plate 8. The ratchet wheel 126 carries upon its inner surface an actuating dog 137. The upright main frame 14 is provided with an offset projecting stud 138, upon which is mounted a controlling disk 139. A stationary ratchet wheel 140 is mounted upon the controlling disk 139 and is arranged in such manner that its teeth are in the path of the actuating dog 137 carried upon the ratchet wheel 126. The controlling disk 139 is pro vided with notches 141. A controlling lever 142 is pivotally mounted on the upright main frame 14 by means of a stud 144 and a pivot belt 145. The controlling lever 142 is provided with a projection 146 which is adapted to cotiperate with the notches 141 in the controlling disk 139. The outer end of the controlling lever 142 is connected by means of a link 147 to a bell crank lever 148 which is pivotally mounted on the easing 1 by means of a pivot screw 149. The upper end of the bell crank lever 148 is slotted as at 150. A controlling slide 151 is provided with a depending member 152 which carries a pin 154 that cotiperates with the slot 150 in the bell crank 148. A tension spring 155 is attached to the casing 1 and to the bell crank lever 148, and tends to draw the projection 146 on the controlling lever 142 against the periphery of the controlling disk 139. When the controlling disk has been rotated a suflicient distance to permit the projection 146 on the controlling lever 142 to drop into one of the notches 141 on the controlling disk 139, the controlling slide 151 moves forward and closes the in sert opening 86 in the coin chute thus preventing any further coins being dropped into the machine, and substantially preventing the operation of the machine after a pre-determined number of certificates have been vended.

The operation of the device is substantially as follows :-(See Figs. 3 and 5.) lVhen a coin of the proper denomination is inserted in the insert opening 86 in the coin chute and finger pressure released, the coin dropping vertically through the chute 87, will strike the rebounding anvil 88, and caroming from the anvil in a curved line, will pass between the adjustable barriers 94 and 95 over into the coin chute for proper coins, where the coin will strike the weight arm 96 and will be retained in the coin slot 98. The weight of the coin is sufficient to overbalance the counter-balancing weight 100 on the weight arm 96, and therefore the inner end of the weight arm carrying the coin will fall under the influence of gravity, to the position indicated in Fig. 5 by M. hen the weight lever has dropped to this position, the engaging dog 108 will be displaced from the lock notch 109 in the cam 110, formed upon the ratchet wheel 6, and the ratchet wheel will be free to be turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5. The engaging dog 108, after leaving the locking notch 109, drops into the spiral portion of the cam groove 110, and as the operating handle 5 is turned, the inner end of the weight arm carrying the coin is .forced down over the ejecting bracket 116 and the coin rolls out of the coin slot 98 to pass down into a coin receiver (not shown) in the base of the machine. As soon as the coin leaves the weight arm, the counterbalancing weight 100 causes the engaging dog 108 to bear upwardly against the inner wall of the cam 110, and causes it to reengage the locking notch as soon as the operating handle 5 has made one complete turn. The retaining pawl 111 prevents the ratchet wheel 6 from being turned in the direction oppo- SlLG to the groove indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, therefore, when the operating handle has completed one revolution, the opposing faces of the retaining pawl 111 completely lock the operating handle from movement in either direction until the de vices have been released in the manner hereinbefore described.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 11, theoperation of the feeding mechanism will be more fully described. Presuming that a proper coin has been inserted into the machine and that the releas-.

ing devices have been operated in the man ner hereinbefore described, upon turning the operating handle 5, the pitman 9, due to the rotation of the crank arm i, will move the vertical slide plate 8 in an upward direction. As the vertical slide plate travels upwardly, the outer end of the movable gripping jaw 16 will travel upwardly in contact with the controlling face on the controlling plate 57, for the reason as has been hereinbefore explained, the movable jaw is pivotally mounted upon the lower end of the vertical slide plate 8. The end of the movable jaw 16 (see Figs. '7 and 11) is held in contact with the controlling face 55 because of the action of the compression spring 71, which holds the pressure post 74 in contact with the gripping jaw throughout its entire action. As the operating handle completes exactly one-half turn, the cam end of the movable jaw 16 will have passed the upper end of the controlling face 55 and will be pushed forward by s the expansion of the compression spring 71. At this time the knife arm will be swung upon its pivot and the cutting blades opened, and the gripping head 54, on the movable gripper 16, will clamp the strip of certificates to the gripping head 52 on the ri id gripper 15. (See Fig. 6.) As the operating handle is turned farther to complete the last half of the cycle of its operation, the gripping jaws are held in contact, under pressure of the spring 71, and move downward in the vertical slot 53 until the forward cam face on the outer end of the movable jaw 16 is brought in contact with the cam face 82 on the cam head 75. (See Fig. 11.) Asthe vertical slide plate 8 continues its downward moveiuent, the cam heao 45 will be forced against the compression spring 7 6 until the cam end of the movable jaw 16 has passed the lower end of the guiding face 56. Immediately as the cam face on the movable jaw passes be yond control of the cam face 56, the compression spring 76, being stronger than the compression spring 71, will throw the cam end of the movable jaw rearward thus quickly opening the clamping jaws and swinging the knife arm 60 on its pivot to bring the cutting edges 64 and 65 in cooperative relation to sever the strip of certificates. The parts will now be in the po sition indicated in Fig. 7. It will be noted that when the strip of certificates is severed, the locking devices illustrated in Fig. 5, have just come into locking relationship and the operating handle 5 will be locked against further movement, at the same time the eXit passage way 157, for the severed stamps or certificates, illustrated in Fig. 4, is eifectually closed by the knife arm 60.

As it becomes necessary to adjust the strip of certificates or stamps for each operation, the adjusting needles 20, illustrated in Figs. 2, 8, 9 and 10, are brought into play just before the completion of the upward travel of the vertical slide plate 8. During the upward movement of the vertical slide plate 8, the strip of certificates is entirely free of the feeding devices and is under control of the friction rolls 44 and 45. If any adjustment of the strip of certificates is necessary, the friction rolls 44 and 45 may be rotated by thumb pressure to move the strip up or down as required. However, after having been once adjusted, the adjusting needles 20 perform the function of keeping the strip of certificates in proper relationship to insure their being severed on lines between each certificate. As the vertical slide plate 8 moves upward, the adjusting needles 20 assume the position illustrated in Fig. 9, until their curved ends 25 contact with the curved leaf springs 50, which are stronger than the light leaf springs 24, and thus the points of the needles are gently pressed against the strip of certificates with a force which is not sufficiently great to overcome the friction of the friction rolls 44 and 45. During the further upward movement of the vertical slide plate 8, the needles are moved over the back of the certificates until they pass a row of perforations in the strip of certificates or stamps. Immediately upon coming to the row of perforations, the points of the needles drop into the perforations and move the strip of certificates accordingly. At the beginning of the return movement of the vertical slide plate 8, the adjusting needles 20 carry the strip of certificates downwardly a short distance before the gripping heads 52 and 54 clamp the certificates to com lets the feeding operation. Thus it wil. be seen that during each feeding operation the strip of stamps or certificates is automatically adjusted with reference to the line of perforations between the stamps, which is the line upon which it is desirable that the stamps shall be cut. During the slight downward movement of the strip of certificates under the influence of the needle points, a portion of the certificate under each needle point is curved inwardly, as is illustrated in Fig. 8, in such manner as to offer resistance to the receding of the needle point from the perfo rated opening, due to the influence of the springs 25, and since the springs 25 are very light, they are not sufficient to overcome this friction, consequently the needles are retained in the perforated openings (see Fig. 8) until a second cycle of operation. At the beginning of a cycle of operation the needle points are moved upwardly during the movement of the vertical slide plate 8, and the upward movement of the needles tends to withdraw their points from the openings through which they have been automatically inserted. Therefore it will be seen that the needle points are held with their operative points through the perforations in the strip of certificates when the device is in normal position, thus tending to prevent the strip of certificates from being displaced or thrown out of adjustment while the machine is inactive.

It is desirable that the machine shall be rendered inoperative just before the supply of stamps or certificates has been exhausted, and in order to insure that this may take place, the device is provided with an automatic counting mechanism, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Just before the vertical slide plate 8 completes its upward travel, the actuating pin 136 contacts with the adjusting screw 132 on the bell crank arm 127, thus rocking the bell crank arm and moving the feeding dog 128 to turn the ratchet wheel 126 a predetermined distance. During each revolution of the ratchet wheel 126, the actuating dog 137 contacts with the teeth of the secondary ratchet wheel 140 to rotate the controlling disk 139. During the rotation of the controlling disk, the projection 146 is in contact with its periphery due to the strength of the tension spring 155 and intermediate links to the control lever 142. The controlling disk is rotated in the manner hereinbefore described, until the projection 146 on the controlling lever 142 drops into one of the notches 141, as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. The upward movement of the controlling lever 142 permits the bell crank 148 to turn upon its pivot, and thus the tension spring 155 is released to move the control slide 151, to cover the insert opening 86 in the coin chute, and prevents any further coin from being dropped into the machine.

The mechanism which has just been de scribed, performs the double function of rendering the machine inoperative when a pre-determined number of certificates have been vended and also automatically counts or records the number of ac-tuations which have taken place subsequent to filling the machine with the roll of certificates, for the reason that it requires a pre-determined number or cycles of operation to move the control disk from one notch 141 to another, thus enabling the owner of the machine to check the number of coins in the coin receptacle against the number of certificates which remain upon the retaining roll.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that as soon as the weight arm 96 drops downward due to its being overbalanced by a proper coin, it will engage the lower end 120 of the lever arm 118 which carries the movable barrier 117. The influence of the weight disk 121 is thus overcome, and the movable barrier 117 is moved forward through the slot 122 in the coin selector and substantially bars the passage way between the adjustable barriers 94 and 95. Thus it will be seen that if a second coin be introduced into the machine before th operating handle is turned, the second coin will rebound from the anvil 88, will strike the movable barrier 117 and will be thrown back into the ejecting chute 156, which communicates with an ejecting cup (not shown) on the front casing of the machine, and the coin will be returned to the purchaser.

Having thus described my invention what I desire to claim is 1. In a device of the class described, a fee-ding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said carrier, cutting blades located beneath said gripping jaws, spring means for simultaneously closing said gripping jaws and opening said cutting blades, and a separate spring means for simultaneously opening said gripping jaws and closing said cutting blades.

2. In a device of the class described, a feeding mechanism comprising a vertical reciprocatory carrier, a rigid gripping jaw mounted upon said vertical reciprocatory carrier, a movable gripping jaw pivotall) mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier in such manner as to cooperate with said rigid jaw, cutting blades located beneath said gripping jaws, spring means for simultaneously swinging said movable jaw on its pivot to close said jaws and to open said cutting blades, and a separate spring means adapted to swing said movable jaw on its pivot to open said jaws and close said cutting blades.

3. In a device of the class described, a

. feeding mechanism comprising a movable carrier, a rigid gripping jaw mounted upon said movable carrier, a movable jaw pivotally mounted upon said movable carrier, a fixed cutting blade, a pivoted knife arm, spring means for swinging said movable jaw on its pivot to close said gripping jaws and to swing said knife arm on its pivot to open said cutting blades, and a separate spring means for simultaneously opening said gripping jaws and closing said cutting blades.

4. In a device of the class described, a feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, means mounted upon said carrier for engaging a strip of material, barrier means for closing an exit opening, spring means for removing said barrier means to uncover said opening and to cause said engaging means to engage a strip of material, and a separate spring means for simultaneously disengaging said engaging means from said strip of material and moving said barrier means over said exit opening.

5. In a device of the class described, a feeding mechanism comprising a carrier, a rigid gripping jaw mounted upon said carrier, a movable gripping jaw pivotally mounted upon said carrier in such manner as to cooperate with said rigid jaw, cutting blades, a cam member, a pressure post mounted upon one of said cutting blades, a tension spring operatively connected with one of said cutting blades to open said cutting blades and to close said gripping jaws, and a second spring operated means to open said gripping jaws and close said cutting blades.

6. In a device of the class described, a delivery mechanism comprising a movable carrier, a rigid gripping jaw mounted on said movable carrier, a movable gripping jaw p-ivotally mounted on said carrier, a stationary cutting blade, a movable cutting blade, a vertical cam adapted to hold said jaws open and said cutting blades closed, a pressure post mounted upon said movable cutting blade, spring means operatively connected with said movable cutting blade in such manner as to cause said pressure post to contact with said movable gripping jaw in a direction tending to close said jaws, a reciprocating cam head, and a tension spring operatively connected with said cam head.

7. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, said mechanism consisting in movable feeding grippers, cutting mechanism adapted to sever a portion of said strip, spring means for simultaneously closing said grippers and opening said cutting mechanism, and a separate spring means for simultaneously opening said grippers and closing said cutting mechanism.

8. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip,

feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, and means carried by said feeding mechanism for adjusting said strip each time a portion is fed, said means including adjusting needles normally disengaged from the continuous strip, and springs to cause said needles to engage said strip prior to the feeding operation of the feeding mechanism.

9. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, means carried by said feeding mechanism for adjusting said strip prior to each feeding operation, said means including adjusting needles normally disengaged from said strip, and springs to force said needles into engagement with said strip prior to the effective operation of the feeding mechanism, and cutting mechanism adapted. to sever a portion of said strip after each feeding operation.

10. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip provided with openings, feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time,

and means carried by the feeding mecha-.

means including adjusting needles normally out of contact with said strip, said needles being provided with a cam portion and leaf springs arranged to contact with said cam portion to cause said needles to engage the strip prior to the effective operation of the feeding mechanism.

11. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip which is provided with perforations, feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of said strip at a time, means carried by the feeding mechanism cooperating with said perforations for adjusting said strip prior to each feeding operation, said means including adjusting needles provided with cam portions and leaf springs cooperating with said cam portions at a predetermined period in the operation of said device to cause said needles to cooperate with said strip prior to the effective operation of the feeding mechanism, and means for severing a por tion of said strip after said feeding opera tion has been completed.

12. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip which is provided with engagement portions located at pre-determined intervals, feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of said strip at a time, and adjustment means carried by the feeding mechanism adapted to cooperate with said engagement portions to adjust said strip for each feeding operation, said adjusting means includin adjusting needles provided with cam portlons, leaf ,ggig 1,098,399

springs for holding said needles normally out of contact with the strip, and curved leaf springs adapted to contact with the cam portions to force said needles in contact with said strip.

13. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip which is provided with adjustment means at ore-determined intervals, mechanisms for feeding a portion of said strip at a time, and adjustment mechanisms carried by the feeding devices and adapted to cooperate with said adjustment means upon the strip to position said strip with relation to the feeding mechanisms, said adjustment mechanisms including adjustment needles normally out of contact with the strip, and cams for causing said needles to contact with said strip prior to the actuation of said feeding mechanism.

14. In a device of the class described. for vending articles from a continuous strip, a reciprocatory carrier, feeding mechanisms upon said reciprocatory carrier for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, adjustment mechanisms carried by said reciprocatory carrier and arranged to adjust said strip prior to the operation of feeding the strip, said adjustment mechanisms including pivoted adjusting needles normally out of contact with the strip, and cam devices for forcing the points of said needles into contact with said strip prior to the effective actuation of the feeding mechanisms.

15. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a reciprocatory carrier, gripping mechanism mounted upon said carrier, means for operating said gripping mechanism to engage said strip during the movement of said reciprocatory carrier in one direction, and adjustment mechanism carried by said recipro catory carrier and adapted to cooperate with said strip prior to the closing of said gripping mechanism to grip said strip.

16. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a reciprocatory carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said carrier, cutting blades located beneath said gripping jaws, means for simultaneously closing said gripping jaws and opening said cutting blades, means for simultaneously opening said gripping jaws and closing said cutting blades, and means for adjusting said strip prior to the closing of said gripping jaws.

17. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a feeding mechanism comprising a reciprocatory carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier, cutting blades located beneath said gripping jaws, adjustment needles mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier, and means for moving said needles in contact with said strip during a portion of the movement of said reciprocatory carrier.

18. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a reciprocatory carrier, gripping mechanism mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier and adapted to engage said strip to feed a portion thereof at a time, adjustment needles mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier and normally out of contact with said strip, and means for causing said adjustment needles to engage said strip during a portion of the movement of the said reciprocatory carrier.

19. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a reciprocatory carrier, gripping mechanism for feeding a portion of said strip at a time, adjustment needles pivotally mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier and normally out of contact with said strip, and means for swinging said adjustment needles upon their pivot prior to the engagement of said strip by said gripping mechanism.

20. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, the combination of a reciprocatory carrier, gripping jaws mounted upon said reciproeatery carrier and adapted to engage said strip during the movement of said reciprocatory carrier in one direction, means for holding said gripping jaws in engagement with said strip during the movement of said reciprocatory carrier in the opposite direction, adjustment needles pivotally mounted upon said reciprocatory carrier, and means for causing said adjustment needles to come into engagement with said strip prior to the engagement of said strip by said gripping aws.

21. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, the combination of feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, adjustment needles, resilient springs cooperating with said adjustment needles in such manner as to normally retain the points of said needles out of contact with said strip, and other resilient springs adapted to cooperate with said adjustment needles to bring their points in cooperation with said strip to adjust the same prior to the effective operation of said feeding mechanism.

22. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, a roll for carrying the strip, mechanisms for feeding said strip a portion at a time, a guiding chute for guiding said strip during its feeding movement, friction rolls in contact with said strip, and located intermediate said roll and the feeding devices, and friction means ooperating with said rolls to offer a slight resistance to the movement of said strip during the feeding thereof.

23. In a device of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, the

combination of feeding mechanism for feeding a portion of the strip at a time, a supporting roll for the strip, a guiding chute for guiding said strip during its feeding movement, friction rolls located intermedi ate the supporting roll and the feeding devices and extending into said chute and bearing against said strip, friction means cooperating with said rolls in such manner as to offer resistance to the movement of said strip, the exterior surfaces of said rolls being roughened to form engagement surfaces, and automatic means for adjusting said continuous strip prior to each vending operation.

24. In adevice of the class described for vending articles from a continuous strip, the combination of mechanism for feeding a portion of said strip at a time, a supporting roll for said continuous strip, a guiding chute for guiding said strip during its feeding movement, friction means cooperating With said strip to offer resistance to any movement of said strip, said friction means being located intermediate the feeding devices and the supporting roll, and automatic adjusting means adapted to adjust said strip prior to each feeding movement thereof. ROBERT H. POLLOCK. WVitnesses IVA DAYTON, IsAAc E. RUNYoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

